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Guilty of conspiracy
$1M of pot seized
Colorado soldier convicted in murder-for-hire scheme By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
LAREDO — U.S. Army Sgt. Samuel Walker was convicted Thursday of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Prosecutors alleged
Walker, 29, and several others came to Laredo in March to carry out a contract killing for undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents, posing as Zeta drug cartel members, in exchange for drugs and cash.
SAMUEL WALKER: Convicted of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Following a seven-day trial and 11 hours of deliberation, a federal jury
found Walker, a soldier from Colorado Springs, Colo., guilty of conspiracy to commit murderfor-hire. Also, co-defendant Calvin “Beef ” Epps, 28, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine
and marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana in the same plot. Both Walker and Epps were additionally convicted of possessing a fire-
See GUILTY PAGE 6A
Agents find weed in 12 cable spools By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
HONORING THE DECEASED
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
U.S. Border Patrol agents seized marijuana worth more than $1 million and arrested a Laredo man Monday afternoon near San Ygnacio. Agents conducting roving patrol at about 3 p.m. in northern Zapata County noticed a suspicious white 2001 Ford F250 pickup pulling a 16-foot flatbed trailer loaded with 12 spools of coaxial cable. The driver, later identified as 30-year-old Jesus Angel Hernandez, appeared surprised when he saw the marked units and tapped on his brakes, jerking his steering wheel towards the shoulder of the road, a Border Patrol news release stated. Agents also noticed the Ford pickup had inconsistent model decals on it, according to federal authorities. “Some decals indicated that the truck was an F150 and others that it was an F250,” the criminal complaint states. Upon checking the license plate on the pickup, agents notice the information returned indicated the plates belonged to a gray Ford pickup and not a white F150. Given the inconsistencies, agents conducted an immigration inspection of the driver. Federal authorities identified him as Her-
Isabel Perez and her family decorate the resting place of a loved one in honor of Dia De Los Muertos at the City of Laredo Cemetery on Friday morning, in Laredo. See MARIJUANA PAGE 9A
MEXICO’S DAY OF THE DEAD
Day brings sad memories of the missing By MARK STEVENSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEXICO CITY — Maria Elena Salazar refuses to set out plates of her missing son’s favorite foods or orange flowers as offerings for the deceased on Mexico’s Day of the Dead, even though she hasn’t seen him in three-and-a-half years. The 50-year-old former teacher is convinced that Hugo Gonzalez Salazar, a university graduate in marketing who worked for a
telephone company, is still alive and being forced to work for a drug cartel because of his skills. “The government, the authorities, they know it, that the gangs took them away to use as forced labor,” said Salazar of her then 24-year-old son, who disappeared in the northern city of Torreon in July 2009. The Day of the Dead — when Mexicans traditionally visit the graves of dead relatives and leave offer-
“
The government, the authorities, they know it, that the gangs took them away to use as forced labor.” MARIA ELENA SALAZAR, MOTHER OF HUGO GONZALEZ SALAZAR, A MISSING MAN
ings of flowers, food and candy skulls — is a difficult time for the families of
the thousands of Mexicans who have disappeared amid a wave of drug-fueled
violence. With what activists call a mix of denial, hope and desperation, they refuse to dedicate altars on the Nov. 1-2 holiday to people often missing for years. They won’t accept any but the most certain proof of death. Numbers vary on just how many people have disappeared in recent years. Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission says 24,000 people have been reported missing between 2000 and mid-2012, and that
nearly 16,000 bodies remain unidentified. An investigation conducted by the newspaper Milenio, involving hundreds of information requests to state and municipal governments, indicates that 24,102 unidentified bodies were buried in paupers’ or common graves in Mexican cemeteries since 2006. The number is almost certainly incomplete, since some local governments refused to provide figures, Milenio reported.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, NOV. 3.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Zapata High School will compete in the regional cross country meet in San Antonio. The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will have military and veterans day: buy one ticket and get one free (must present ID). "One World, One Sky Big Bird’s Adventure" will show at 2 p.m.; "Earth, Moon, and Sun" at 3 p.m.; "2012: Ancient Skies Ancient Mysteries" at 4 p.m.; and Pink Floyd’s "Dark Side of the Moon" at 5 p.m. Matinee show is $4, general admission is $4 for children and $5 adults, and premium shows are $1 more. For more information, call 956-326-3663. Girl Scouts Troop No. 9111 will also be stationed at the Planetarium ticket booth, collecting non-perishable food items for Volunteers Serving the Need. The Planetarium will give a free adult ticket in exchange for five items.
Today is Saturday, Nov. 3, the 308th day of 2012. There are 58 days left in the year. A reminder: Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday at 2 a.m. local time. Clocks go back one hour. Today’s Highlights in History: On Nov. 3, 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd president of the United States, defeating President George H.W. Bush. In Illinois, Democrat Carol MoseleyBraun became the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate. On this date: In 1839, the first Opium War between China and Britain broke out. In 1900, the first major U.S. automobile show opened at New York’s Madison Square Garden under the auspices of the Automobile Club of America. In 1903, Panama proclaimed its independence from Colombia. In 1911, the Chevrolet Motor Car Co. was founded in Detroit by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant. (The company was acquired by General Motors in 1918.) In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt won a landslide election victory over Republican challenger Alfred M. “Alf ” Landon. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, the second manmade satellite, into orbit; on board was a dog named Laika (LY’-kah) who was sacrificed in the experiment. In 1960, the Meredith Willson musical “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” opened on Broadway with Tammy Grimes in the title role. In 1961, Burmese diplomat U Thant (oo thahnt) was appointed acting U.N. SecretaryGeneral following the death of Dag Hammarskjold (dahg HAWM’-ahr-shoold). President John F. Kennedy established the U.S. Agency for International Development. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson soundly defeated Republican Barry Goldwater to win a White House term in his own right. In 1970, Salvador Allende was inaugurated as president of Chile. In 1979, five Communist Workers Party members were killed in a clash with heavily armed Ku Klux Klansmen and neo-Nazis during an anti-Klan protest in Greensboro, N.C. In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair began to come to light as Ash-Shiraa magazine first broke the story of U.S. arms sales to Iran. Ten years ago: A CIA Predator drone fired a missile at a car in Yemen, killing alQaida’s top operative in that country (Qaed Salim Sinan alHarethi). Today’s Birthdays: Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis is 79. Actordancer Ken Berry is 79. Singer Lulu is 64. Actress Kate Capshaw is 59. Comedian Dennis Miller is 59. Singer Adam Ant is 58. Olympic gold medal figure skater Evgeni Plushenko is 30. Thought for Today: “You must be true to yourself. Strong enough to be true to yourself. Brave enough to be strong enough to be true to yourself. Wise enough to be brave enough, to be strong enough to shape yourself from what you actually are.” — Sylvia Constance Ashton-Warner, New Zealander author and educator (1908-1984).
MONDAY, NOV. 5 Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Laredo will host its 4th Annual Medical Mission from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at San Luis Rey Church Hall, 3502 Sanders Ave. Medical, dental and vision care will be provided. General medical check-ups will be provided; general dental services will be provided such as cleaning and extractions; and general vision care will be offered for those needing reading glasses. Health education, physical therapy and spiritual counseling will also be made available. The services are on a first-come, first-serve basis and free to the public. For more information, contact Rebecca Solloa at 956-722-2443 or rsolloa@csslaredo.org.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7 The board of the Zapata County Fair Association meets from 6:30-8 p.m. The location of the meeting will be announced.
THURSDAY, NOV. 8 This is kick-off day for the chocolate candy sale, a PTO Fundraiser for Fidel & Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School.
FRIDAY, NOV. 9 Art Smart UIL practice is set for 3-5 p.m. at Fidel & Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School.
SATURDAY, NOV. 10 Zapata High School will compete at the state cross country meet in Round Rock.
TUESDAY, NOV. 13 The Zapata County Commissioners Court will meet from 9 a.m. through noon at the Zapata County Courthouse.
SATURDAY, NOV. 17 The Bud Light Tournament Fall 2012 San Antonio Division tournament returns to Falcon Lake, 8 a.m. through 5 p.m.
MONDAY, NOV. 19 Staff development day at Zapata County ISD. Student holiday.
TUESDAY, NOV. 20 Staff development day at Zapata County ISD. Student holiday.
Photo by Ruben R. Ramirez/The El Paso Times | AP
Former El Paso ISD superintendent Lorenzo Garcia is escorted by his attorneys into the federal courthouse in El Paso. where he was sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison. Two other EPISD officials resigned this week in connection with a testing scandal, including Myrna Gamboa, who ran Title I schools.
Official out in test scam ASSOCIATED PRESS
EL PASO — An administrator in a West Texas school district is the second person this week to resign over a scheme involving high-stakes standardized tests that landed the ex-superintendent in prison. Myrna Gamboa resigned Thursday from the El Paso Independent School District and will receive no severance or benefits. She served under former superintendent Lorenzo Garcia, who was sentenced Oct. 5 to 3 1/2 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to organizing a scheme that forced students to drop out to keep them from taking accountability exams. Gamboa oversaw the district’s Title I schools, which receive federal funding that’s designed to improve tests scores for low-income students.
Jesus Chavez, the former principal of Bowie High School, also resigned this week. Both officials resigned less than a month after the top education official in Texas handed the district an ultimatum: Punish the officials involved in the scandal or face harsh sanctions. Such sanctions could include a conservator — who would have more power than the monitor already put in place by the agency — or install a board of managers to take over some of the functions of the board of trustees. The state could even install a new school board for the El Paso district. Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams also called for the district to identify wrongdoers and conduct an “entire inquiry into the district, to know why this happened, who was involved and the consequences for students and teachers.”
German ship crew dumped County employee charged oil at sea, lied about it in corruption probe HOUSTON — Two German shipping companies have admitted dumping oil illegally at sea and concealing it. The Nimmrich & Prahm shipping company and its holding company entered their guilty pleas in federal court in Houston on Friday. Under a plea agreement, they’ll pay a $1.2 million criminal penalty, $200,000 of which will go to the National Marine Sanctuaries Fund.
Museum, Kuwaitis agree to exchange HOUSTON — The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has agreed to an exchange of objects, staff and expertise with a privately held Kuwaiti collection of Islamic art. The agreement announced Friday will include placing around 60 objects long-term loan in a gallery at the Houston museum.
DEL RIO — A former South Texas county employee has been accused of taking bribes from county contractors. Former Maverick County assistant county auditor Alejandra Garcia turned herself in to federal authorities in Del Rio on Friday after her indictment earlier this week on one count of accepting bribes.
Patrick wants AG opinion on same-sex benefits AUSTIN — One of Texas’ most conservative state senators has asked for an attorney general’s opinion on whether local governments can grant marriage benefits to same-sex partners. Sen. Dan Patrick says Texas amended its state Constitution in 2005 to define marriage as between one man and one woman, while prohibiting government entities from recognizing anything similar to marriage.
Smoke forces Potter Courthouse evacuation AMARILLO — Emergency officials say smoke has prompted the evacuation of the Potter County Courthouse but nobody was hurt. Amarillo firefighters responded to the call around midmorning Friday. Emergency officials traced the smoke to an elevator equipment room.
Off-duty reserve officer kills suspect in Houston HOUSTON — Police say an off-duty reserve law enforcement officer shot and killed a man in a neighbor’s domestic dispute. Police on Friday said Corey Hayes was dead at the scene and the Harris County reserve deputy constable who opened fire Thursday night was not hurt. The deputy constable is on administrative leave during the police and constable’s office investigation. — Compiled from AP reports
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21
AROUND THE NATION
ZCISD holiday: no school.
THURSDAY, NOV. 22 ZCISD holiday: no school.
THURSDAY, NOV. 29 Mariachi Vargas is scheduled at Zapata High School.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5 The board of the Zapata County Fair Association meets from 6:30-8 p.m. The location will be announced.
THURSDAY, DEC. 6 The Christmas Parade and Lighting of the County Plaza is set for 5:30-9 p.m.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21 The Falcon Slam Bassmaster Elite Tournament returns to Falcon Lake. The tournament will run through Sunday, March 24. To submit an item for the calendar, email editorial@lmtonline.com.
Final 10-mile trek for space shuttle Atlantis CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Accompanied by astronauts and shuttle workers, Atlantis made a slow, solemn journey to retirement Friday, the last space shuttle to orbit the world and the last to leave NASA’s nest. Atlantis emerged just before dawn from the massive Vehicle Assembly Building and, riding atop a 76-wheeled platform, began the 10-mile trek to the Kennedy Space Center’s main tourist stop. About 200 workers gathered in the early morning chill to see the spaceship out in the open for the final time. They were joined by the four astronauts who closed out the shuttle program aboard Atlantis more than a year ago.
Ill. slayings suspect was grieving father’s death NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The sub-
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Space shuttle Atlantis rolls down Kennedy Parkway on its way to its new home at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Friday in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Its final flight closed out the Space Shuttle Program with a landing on July 21. urban Chicago woman charged with murder in the stabbing deaths of her 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old girl she was babysitting had been upset about her own father’s recent death, a prosecutor said Friday. But what role Elzbieta Plack-
owska’s grief over her father’s death may have played in her actions Tuesday — when authorities say she stabbed the two children dozens of — DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin could not say. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Land man takes on the protesters A
USTIN — Perhaps you’ve heard that Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is in a war of words with some folks protesting the construction of the southern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline in East Texas. Perhaps you’ve heard that Patterson is always in a war of words with somebody. That’s why Texans — other than those with whom he is in a war of words — love him. He’s not always right, but he’s almost always entertaining.
Tree houses And so he was, at least to me, when he recently called my attention to the protesters’ lengthy Webposted wish list of supplies they hope the public will provide for the protest, which includes holing up in platforms built in trees. Sixteen items are listed under “other,” a broad category always ripe with potential. Included are cans of rolling tobacco, vehicles (“junk or drivable”), soap, toilet paper and all-natural mosquito repellent. And condoms. Ladies and gentleman, please put your hands together and help me welcome to the stage Jerry Patterson, your Texas land commissioner: “I have taken a shot at the eco-anarchists and I’m feeling bad about it. My sensitive side leads me to conclude that ecoanarchists need love too. ... Yes, it’s true. Protesters are people, too, and like all of us they need love.”
A particular type Tell us, Mr. Commissioner, will you be sending any condoms?: “Well, it would be helpful to keep them busy doing something besides lying down in front of bulldozers. If I do send condoms, they will be natural sheep gut. No synthetics are allowed.” Any safety concerns? “Let’s hope those tree platforms are well constructed,” he said. I tell you, these eco-anarchists today. “In the ’60s it was free love,” Patterson said in an email. “Today it’s tree love.” Turns out Patterson’s one-liners, solid though they were, now are outdated. Ramsey Sprague, spokesperson for the Tar Sands Blockade group organizing the protests, told me condoms, initially added as a “general ask” on the wish list, have been removed. “We don’t have an actual need for condoms in camp,” Sprague said, adding it’s “a rather family friendly camp ... and most of our people can afford their own.”
‘Ecoanarchists’ Patterson took his antiprotester protest statewide in a recent op-ed column offered to Texas newspapers. In it, he blasted his current foes as “a bunch of out-ofstate, self-appointed ‘ecoanarchists’ (who) think they know better than Texans and have arrived to save us from ourselves.” (FYI, “eco-anarchists”
“
KEN HERMAN
“
I have taken a shot at the eco-anarchists and I’m feeling bad about it. My sensitive side leads me to conclude that eco-anarchists need love too.” LAND COMMISSIONER JERRY PATTERSON
is what these folks call themselves on Earth First’s website, which also says it needs “videographers and media specialists, medics, chefs, vehicle mechanics, tree-sitters and riggers, lockdowners, forest scouts, community organizers, welders, carpenters, and badasses of all trades.” Listed tactics include “meme warfare” and “roving bands of mischief-makers.”)
Actress challenged In his column, Patterson went one-on-one with one protester, actress Darryl Hannah, who was arrested for criminal trespass in Wood County this month while participating in the protest. Hannah, says Patterson, is a “clueless Hollywood actress (who) thanks to her mug shot probably received more press than she’s received since she played a mermaid in a movie a couple of decades ago.” Patterson is wrong. “Splash” came out in 1984, which is almost three decades ago.
Demands The commish also has called for the protesters “to come down out of the trees, take a bath and hit the road.” And he invited a nature lesson with this passage: “Gangs of tree sitters who trespass and defecate on landowners’ property don’t understand Texas values and culture.” The nature lesson came from Barney Rebel on the protesters’ Facebook page.
WORST WEEK IN WASHINGTON
Polls let you pick your flavor By CHRIS CILLIZZA THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — Remember those golden days of this election season when a poll or two came out each week, and we political junkies pored over it with the glee of 5-year-olds at Christmas? That joy has turned to ash as each day is packed full of competing poll numbers that seem to tell contradictory stories.
In the past week alone, at least nine polls have been released on where the presidential race stands in Ohio, and at least seven have come out in Virginia. A CBS News-QuinnipiacNew York Times poll in Virginia said that President Obama led by two points; in a Roanoke College survey, it was Mitt Romney by five. And the pollsters were in the field at the same time! What all of this polling
means is that partisans, who already live in a choose-your-own-politicalreality world, can select the numbers that comply with their view of the race and pooh-pooh the data that suggest anything different. And for those exotic birds known as true independent voters, the panoply of polling leaves them at a loss — baffled by how so many surveys can show so many contradictory things. Here’s the truth: Polling
COLUMN
The right to vote is a privilege I
n three days, Americans throughout our great country will exercise one of the most cherished privileges in the free world — the right to vote. In these final days leading up to the election, there has been an enormous surge in political activity with a bombardment of advertisements in print, television and radio, as well as the use of social media and text messaging. Through all this clutter, people of faith throughout our nation are filtering the messages to make an informed decision. As the Shepherd of the Diocese of Laredo, I remind everyone that we have a moral responsibility to work for the common good, which includes thoughtful and prayerful participation in the political process.
“
JAMES TAMAYO
I cannot tell you how to vote. It is not the role of the Catholic Church to tell anybody how to vote, but it is the role of the bishops of the church to help the faithful form their consciences. A properly formed conscience enables a voter to evaluate all choices in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With this in mind, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published and disseminated a document entitled “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops
of the United States.” I strongly encourage all Catholics to read and reflect on this examination of the teachings of the Catholic Church and how they apply to the world today. I invite you to also go online to www.faithfulcitizenship.org. The statement discusses Catholic social teaching on topics including health care, immigration, respect for marriage and family, our concern for the poor and vulnerable and the rights of workers. Faithful Citizenship also addresses public policies which are morally wrong and adversely impact the authentic good of persons. The following Prayer for Voters is timely and comes from www.Franciscanmedia.com: “Come, Holy Spirit, “Fill our hearts and
minds with your truth. “Bless us as we prepare to vote. “Give us wisdom that we might apply the teaching of our faith to the decisions we make. “Endow us with understanding and balance as we discern what is good for our country and its people. “Guide us to seek leaders who will follow your will, “And may our vote be offered with confidence that your providence “Will bring prosperity, peace and justice for all your people. “Amen.” Our responsibilities as citizens and as people of faith do not end in the voting booth. And I remind you that we continue working to promote the welfare of all.— Todo Con Amor.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata Times does not publish anonymous letters. To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The
phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our
readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-call-
Nature lesson “First of all,” Rebel wrote, “every animal that lives in the woods, poops in the woods. Soil is essentially poop. Every white tail deer hunter in the state of Texas has at one time pooped in the woods.” It is unclear how Rebel knows that last thing. Perhaps there is census data. I don’t know. (Ken Herman is a columnist for the Austin American-Statesman. Email: kherman@statesman.com.)
is, and always has been, equal parts art and science. Deciding what questions to ask, in what order to ask them and whether to weight the results to a preconceived idea of the poll sample’s partisan makeup are all judgment calls. And, different pollsters define best practices differently. Polling, for proving that you can have too much of a good thing, you had the worst week in Washington. Congrats, or something.
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
ing or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
Nation
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Little fuel means long lines at the pump By CHRISTOPHER SULLIVAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — When it came to fuel supplies and patience, the New York metro area was running close to empty Friday. From storm-scarred New Jersey to parts of Connecticut, a widespread lack of gasoline or electricity to pump it brought grousing, gridlock and worse, compounding frustrations as millions of Americans struggled to return to normal days after Superstorm Sandy. A man pulled a gun in one gas-line fracas that led to an arrest. Lines of cars, and in many places queues of people on foot carrying bright red jerry cans for generators, waited for hours for the precious fuel. And those were the lucky ones. Other customers gave up after finding only closed stations or dry pumps marked with yellow tape or “No Gas” signs. “EMPTY!” declared the red-type headline dominating the New York Daily
News’ front page. “I drove around last night and couldn’t find anything,” said Kwabena Sintim-Misa as he finally prepared to fill up Friday morning in Fort Lee, N.J., near the George Washington Bridge, where the wait in line lasted three hours. Arlend Pierre-Louis of Elmont, on Long Island, said he awoke at 4:30 a.m. to try to get gas. When he finally found some — “the one working pump in Elmont” — the line was so long he gave up and returned to his home, which still has no light or hot water. At a Hess gas station in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn, the 10-block line caused confusion among passing drivers. “There’s been a little screaming, a little yelling. And I saw one guy banging on the hood of a car,” said Vince Levine, who got in line at 5 a.m. and was still waiting at 8 a.m. “But mostly it’s been OK.” A cabdriver stuck in a 17-block line at a Manhat-
Photo by Ron Rittenhouse/The Dominion-Post | AP
A car is draped with snow-covered branches south of Morgantown, W.Va. on Tuesday. Sandy dumped much snow on the mountains, snapping trees, pulling down power lines and collapsing homes. tan station remained philosophical. “I don’t blame anybody,” said Harum Prince. “God, he knows why he brought this storm.” Many tried to heed Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s admonition to “have some patience,” as the stricken metro area recovers from the unprecedented storm that upended daily life with
power outages, food shortages and other frustrations besides lack of fuel. But tempers boiled over in some places. Arguments in lines in New York’s Queens bor-
ough and in Pelham led to arrests, authorities said. In the first case, a man pulled a gun and in the second police confiscated a box cutter. No one was hurt. Power outages that lingered across the region prevented some gas stations that had fuel from being able to pump it, officials said. But fuel supplies themselves were badly disrupted by the storm. Sandy damaged ports that accept fuel tankers and flooded underground equipment that sends fuel through pipelines. Without power, fuel terminals can’t pump gasoline onto tanker trucks, and gas stations can’t pump fuel into customers’ cars. The Port of New York and New Jersey was slowly starting to accept tankers, but some cargo was being diverted to the Port of Virginia. Federal require-
ments for low-smog gasoline have been lifted, and fuel trucks are on their way to the area. Officials said they were working to speed the flow of fuel. Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano temporarily waived a rule to allow foreign tankers coming from the Gulf of Mexico to enter Northeastern ports. The action, she said, would “remove a potential obstacle to bringing additional fuel to the storm damaged region.” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, meanwhile, signed an executive order waiving the state’s requirement that fuel tankers register and pay a tax before unloading. Tankers, he said Friday, are now making “great progress” delivering fuel to distribution centers. “No reason to panic,” the governor urged.
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
GUILTY Continued from Page 1A arm in relation to a crime. Walker’s attorney, Eustorgio Perez, said the defense team, prosecutors and jurors worked hard on the case. Based on the extensive hours of deliberation, Perez said it was obvious jurors took their time to look at each count the defendants faced. “We have to respect their judgment,” he said. “The case was fairly presented on both sides.” Walker and Epps were the remaining defendants in the case. Five others had pleaded guilty to charges. The case began in September 2011, when Epps and Marcus Mickle met at a Whataburger in Laredo with undercover DEA agents posing as drug traffickers. They met after Mickle had responded to a Facebook ad agents had
posted. At the meet, Epps asked the agents for 500 pounds of marijuana and told them he could connect them with “a guy in the military” who could possibly acquire high-powered military weapons, prosecutors alleged. That “guy” was then-1st Lt. Kevin Corley, 29. In a three-way conference call among Corley, Epps and an undercover agent, Corley stated that he could provide military tactical training to Zetas members. They also discussed a murder-for-hire scheme in which a team would kill a man who had stolen cocaine from a cartel boss who undercover agents made up. Corley would later meet Walker at a tavern in Colorado Springs and tell him that “wet work” was
on the table. Corley testified that Walker instructed him to ask for $50,000, since Walker had done wet work before. But Walker testified Monday he “blew off ” Corley when wet work was mentioned. Corley lied, Walker said during trial. On Jan. 14, Corley, his cousin Jerome Corley, Epps and Mickle drove to Laredo to pick up the 500 pounds of marijuana at a warehouse. Authorities, working with the undercover agents, later seized the pot in La Salle County. Corley testified he felt he owed the cartel boss something. On March 5, Epps sent $1,300 to Corley to buy two assault weapons to give to the boss as a gift. Subsequent arrangements led Corley to create an alleged kill team that would come to Laredo on
March 24 to recover 20 kilograms of stolen cocaine at a fictitious ranch and assassinate the man who took it. At the suggestion of the undercover agents, Corley would carve a “Z” on the man’s chest with a Ka-Bar knife. Corley’s cousin, Jerome Corley, and Shavar Davis were assigned security and transportation duties, respectively. Walker would’ve taken a sniper position with his 300-caliber rifle, prosecutors alleged. Walker testified that Corley lied to him about the trip to Laredo. He said he believed he came to discuss training security guards at a warehouse that had been robbed several times. Walker further testified he brought his weapon because Corley told him they would later go recre-
ational shooting. He also said he would not risk his 9-year military career by getting involved in criminal activity. On March 24 while discussing training, DEA agents stormed the undercover warehouse and arrested the alleged kill team. “At that point, agents ran into the room shooting,” Corley testified during trial. Although not discussed in court, a criminal complaint stated a DEA agent shot and killed Jerome Corley at the warehouse. A Texas Department of Public Safety representative said the Texas Rangers’ investigation into the shooting continues. DEA has the case open as well. “DEA is still conducting its internal investigation. Unfortunately, I do not have a time frame as to
when it will be finished,” Lisa A. Webb Johnson, DEA spokeswoman, states in an email to Laredo Morning Times. Also on March 24, an undercover agent met Epps and Mickle at a hotel in Columbia, S.C. Although the defendant had already told the undercover agent that they did not want the 500 pounds of marijuana, the agent said he was going to send it anyway, according to the defense. When arrested, prosecutors alleged both men were armed with handguns. Kevin Corley, Davis, Epps, Mickle and Walker await sentencing dates. Corley testified on behalf of the government, understanding he was not guaranteed anything. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
SÁBADO 3 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2012
Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 3 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO— Quinta Clínica Anual de Vacunación con Servicio en Automóvil, de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. en El Metro Park & Ride, 1819 East Hillside Road. Costo: 20 dólares general; gratis con Medicare/Medicaid; 8 dólares para personas de 18 años de edad y menores. LAREDO— El equipo de voleibol de TAMIU recibe a Newman University a las 12 p.m. en el Kinesiology and Convocation Building. LAREDO— Día del Militar y Día de los Veteranos en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU presenta: “One World, One Sky Big Bird’s Adventure” a las 2 p.m.; “Earth, Moon, and Sun” a las 3 p.m.; “Ancient Skies Ancient Mysteries” a las 4 p.m.; y, “Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon” a las 5 p.m. Costo: 5 dólares. Oferta de compra un boleto y le otro gratis para militares y veteranos. LAREDO— El empresario E.H. Corrigan será reconocido en el Recital Hall del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU a las 5:30 p.m. Participarán el organista David Eaton en el Sharkey Corrigan Organ, la Laredo Philharmonic Brass Ensemble, el Coro Filarmónico de Laredo y los Cantantes de Cámara de TAMIU. Entrada gratuita. LAREDO— Partido de Fútbol Americano Martin vs Nixon, a las 7 p.m. en Shirley Field, 2002 San Bernardo. LAREDO— Presentación de la obra “Path of Marigolds” de Raquel ValleSentíes, a las 8 p.m. en Laredo Center for the Arts, 500 avenida San Agustin. Costo: 15 dólares por persona o 200 dólares, mesa para 6. Más información en (956) 725-1715. NUEVO LAREDO, México — Exposición “La Muerte Desmitificada” presenta calaveras intervenidas por reconocidos artistas plásticos neolaredenses, a las 5 p.m. en el Lobby del Museo Reyes Meza. Entrada gratuita.
Zfrontera
PÁGINA 7A
SALUD
Retiran medicamento TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Fue emitida la orden de retiro de todos los lotes del medicamento comercializado como “Nimesulida de uso Pediátrico”, en Tamaulipas. En un comunicado de prensa, la Comisión para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios, dependiente de la Secretaría de Salud, informó que la decisión fue tomada siguiendo una alerta nacional emitida por la Comisión Federal de Protección Contra Riesgos Sanitarios (Cofepris).
Se debe suspender su comercialización y distribución debido a que puede ocasionar reacciones adversas graves a nivel hepático. En México, “Nimesulida” es elaborada por 11 laboratorios, y la Cofepris advirtió que se debe suspender su comercialización y distribución debido a que puede ocasionar reacciones adversas graves a nivel hepático.
“El fármaco cuenta con una presentación de suspensión y supositorios, y su venta requiere de receta médica por estar considerado dentro del grupo número IV”, aclaró el Secretario de Salud, Norberto Treviño García-Manzo.
De acuerdo con las indicaciones terapéuticas la “Nimesulida de uso Pediátrico” está indicada como coadyuvante para el alivio de la inflamación, dolor y fiebre producida por infecciones agudas de las vías respiratorias superiores, indica el comunicado de prensa. En Tamaulipas existen un total de 2.241 farmacias y siete almacenes de depósito y distribución de medicamentos. Corresponderá a las 12 coordinaciones jurisdiccionales de Tamaulipas llevar a cabo el retiro del producto.
EDUCACIÓN
MIGUEL ALEMÁN
VIDAS EJEMPLARES
Investigan homicidio de ex Alcalde TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
El sector educativo de Tamaulipas celebró el 2 de noviembre, Día de Muertos, con ceremonias donde se recordó a personajes históricos, docentes destacados y personajes de la vida nacional que hayan tenido una vida ejemplar. Durante las celebraciones de la tradición mexicana, personal escolar y alumnos revivieron la importancia de continuar preservando el patrimonio cultural para fortalecer la identidad mexicana e impulsar las tradiciones nacionales. También hubo comida mexicana y la participación de grupos típicos de música mexicana, así como la presentación de Altares de Muertos. En Ciudad Victoria, México fue colocado un altar en memoria del profesor Apolinar Ferrer Méndez.
Autoridades federales y estatales investigan el homicidio del ex Alcalde de Miguel Alemán, Raúl Antonio Rodríguez Barrera, ocurrido la noche del miércoles en Reynosa, México. Rodríguez Barrera fue presidente municipal del municipio citado durante la administración 1999-2001. El actual presidente municipal de Miguel Alemán, Ramón Rodríguez Garza, confirmó el homicidio, el jueves. Según primeras investigaciones sospechosos balearon a Rodríguez Barrera frente a su casa, entre las 8 p.m. y 9:30 p.m. del miércoles. Recibió entre cinco a ocho disparos, indican primeros informes. Isela Corro de Rodríguez, esposa de ex mandatario, dijo a las autoridades que logró ver cuando dos jóvenes huyeron a borde de una camioneta color negro, tras los disparos. La agencia del Ministerio Público dio fe de los hechos y ordenó la autopsia de ley. Rodríguez Barrera fue también comandante de la Policía Judicial Federal y subdelegado de la Procuraduría General de la República en Tamaulipas.
POLÍTICA
SERVICIOS
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
DOMINGO 4 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO— Concierto de Danza de Otoño de LCC a las 3 p.m. en el teatro del Guadalupe and Lilia Martínez Fine Arts Center, del campus Fort McIntosh de LCC. Costo: 10 dólares general, 5 dólares adultos mayores y estudiantes. LAREDO— Presentación de la obra “Path of Marigolds” de Raquel ValleSentíes, a las 3 p.m. en Laredo Center for the Arts, 500 avenida San Agustin. Costo: 15 dólares por persona o 200 dólares, mesa para 6. Más información en (956) 725-1715. NUEVO LAREDO, México — Baloncesto: Toros vs Guerrero en Gimnasio de la Nueva Ciudad Deportiva a las 5 p.m.
DEL LUNES 5 AL VIERNES 9 DE NOVIEMBRE ZAPATA — La Diócesis de Laredo y Servicios Sociales Católicos invitan a la Cuarta Misión Médica Anual, de 8 a.m. a 4 p.m. en Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, 1609 Glenn St. La brigada médica es gratuita y ofrece servicios de revisión médica general, dental y espiritual.
MIÉRCOLES 7 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO— Series de Cine Clásico en CinemarkMall del Norte, presenta a las 2 p.m. y 7 p.m. “The Great Escape”, sin clasificar. Adquiera su boleto en www.cinemark.com.
Se reunirá PRI en Laredo LCC tendrá POR MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
El Partido Revolucionario Institucional en Tamaulipas se reúne hoy con nacionales mexicanos residentes en Laredo, con el objetivo de hegemonizar acciones políticas y programas para migrantes. La Secretaría de Migrantes, una nueva figura dentro del PRI, pretende abrir espacios políticos para puestos de elección. “El interés del PRI es establecer lazos con ciudadanos inmigrantes que residen en Estados Unidos y nativos de Tamaulipas”, dijo José Martín Carmona, recién asignado como encargado de la Secretaría. El evento será de 4 p.m. a 6 p.m. en el Hotel Embassy Suites, en 110 Calle del Norte, en Laredo. Reuniones similares ya fueron llevadas a cabo en la ciudad fronteriza de McAllen, donde empresarios y negociantes mexicanos con raíces en Tamaulipas, mostraron su interés por continuar trabajando en proyectos que beneficien al sector ciudadano. Carmona dijo que numerosos tamaulipecos que ahora se han integrado al sector comercio en Texas, han mostrado interés por continuar en la acti-
vidad política dentro del PRI. Inclusive, debido a que conservan su ciudadanía mexicana, están viendo la posibilidad de tener candidatos a puesto de elección popular a nivel Tamaulipas o nacional, dijo él. “En la actualidad existen diputados federales con la estafeta de migrantes quienes residen en diferentes ciudades de Estados Unidos”, dijo Carmona. “Acuden a las sesiones legislativas y representan a los migrantes mexicanos en Estados Unidos”. Carmona quien ha sido reconocido como uno de los lideres migrantes en Estados Unidos y ha marcado una estrecha relación con las agrupaciones en este país, dijo que fortalecerán las acciones en favor de los migrantes ahora que el nuevo presidente de México, Enrique Peña Nieto ha mostrado su interés por atender los temas de este sector de la sociedad mexicana en el extranjero. El PRI invitó a la comunidad neolaredense y de otras comunidades residentes en Laredo, a participar en esta reunión la que, dijo, “abrirá caminos para aquellos ciudadanos que deseen participar en accione políticas y sociales”. La sesión será encabezada por el Presidente Estatal del PRI, Ramiro Ramos Salinas, originario de Nuevo Laredo, México.
TURISMO
Programa busca reactivar pesca TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Durante el 2013 continuará la reactivación de aguas dulces continentales con el repoblamiento de especies comerciales de peces por parte de la Secretaría de Desarrollo Rural de Tamaulipas. El objetivo es fortalecer y modernizar la actividad pesquera, para lo cual se tiene un presupuesto de 780.000 pesos, expli-
có el titular de la Secretaría, Jorge Alberto Reyes Moreno. Como parte del proceso se contempla la modernización de artes y equipos a la flota menor pesquera. El programa contempla la siembra de un 1’200.000 crías de tilapia y 300.000 crías de lobina negra en la presa Falcón, en Nueva Ciudad Guerrero; además del repoblamiento de especies comerciales en los sistemas lagu-
narios Champayán-Río Tamesí. “Buscamos garantizar una mayor eficiencia para quienes viven de esta actividad con la captura de especies en los embalses de agua dulce en Tamaulipas”, dijo Reyes Moreno. “Con el repoblamiento de especies comerciales buscamos fomentar el autoconsumo, la pesca deportiva y recreativa, así como la reactivación de eventos deportivos en estos espacios acuáticos”.
feria para veteranos ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Hombres y mujeres de comunidades circunvecinas quienes hayan servido en el ejército de los EU están invitados para asistir a la sexta Feria anual de Atención y Servicios a Veteranos. El evento será de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. en Laredo Community College—Campus del Sur, en el Centro Estudiantil William N. “Billy” Hall Jr. El evento es gratuito y abierto para todos los veteranos, incluyendo miembros en servicio, de los condados de Webb, Zapata y Jim Hogg. Las esposas de los veteranos o socios y sus hijos son bienvenidos, igualmente. H-E-B es copatrocinador del evento. Más de 15 agencias del área proveerán información y asistencia sobre beneficios, cuidados de salud, oportunidades de empleo, asesoría, préstamos de vivienda y propiedad, ayuda financiera, entre otras cosas. “El propósito de la feria es brindar la información que los veteranos necesitan”, dijo Verónica Hernández, coordinadora de estudios internacionales y asuntos de veteranos en LCC. Participarán agencias como Guardia Nacional del Ejército de Texas, Centro de Educación de Salud del Área, Coalición de Veteranos de Laredo, Oficina de Servicios para Veteranos del Condado de Webb, Asociación de veteranos de Afganistán e Irak del Sur de Texas y el Programa de Liderazgo para Veteranos de Texas, entre otras. Para registrarse y recibir los servicios, los veteranos deben llevar su Forma DD-214 o una identificación vigente.
Nation
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
Romney visits Pa. in quick trip for votes By JIM KUHNHENN AND MARC LEVY ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRYN MAWR, Pa. — Rip Scott regrets his 2008 presidential vote for Barack Obama. The 60-year-old real estate company owner is going home to his Republican Party this year. Here in Philadelphia’s suburbs where Pennsylvania political fights can be won or lost, Scott’s reversal is the evidence Mitt Romney is looking for to merit his sudden, eleventh-hour sortie into the state. “I just kind of bought into the whole thing,” Scott said remorsefully as he headed for a haircut along Philadelphia’s affluent Main Line. He said he feels demonized by Democrats as a successful business owner and wonders why Obama considers him one of the wealthy who needs to contribute more in taxes. “I don’t feel wealthy,” he said. In the campaign’s final days, Romney is making a concerted push into Pennsylvania, aided by outside political groups spending millions in last-minute ads to help erode Obama’s support in 2008, when he won it by more than 10 percentage points. Polling shows Obama holding on to a 4 or 5 percentage point lead over Romney, but Romney has been gaining ground. The incursion raises the question: Can Pennsylvania help Romney win the election, or is the state once again teasing a Republican presidential candidate only to see him fail? For Romney, still flush with campaign money, a foray into Pennsylvania is not folly. He has spent massive amounts of time and money in neighboring Ohio only to see Obama maintain a slight and stubborn polling lead. Without
Photo by Charles Dharapak | AP
Luke Frank, 6, and his brother Zachary, 8, right, from Grafton, Wis., wearing Romney cheeshead hats, listen as Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns in West Allis, Wis., on Friday. Ohio, Romney needs Pennsylvania in his column. Unlike states with early voting, 95 percent of the Pennsylvania votes are expected to be cast on Election Day, justifying a late attempt to sway the outcome. Romney aides argue that Obama is doing worse in the voter-rich Philadelphia suburbs than he did in 2008 and that Romney is doing better than recent Republicans have, and that he can build on the growing GOP strength in the western part of the state. What’s more, Pennsylvania has not been saturated with political advertising, giving Romney and his supporting groups an opportunity to sway last-minute voters with a barrage of ads. Obama is not ignoring the state, and now is buying commercial time in the state as well. He’s also sending his most formidable weapon, former Presi-
dent Bill Clinton, to the state Monday to campaign. “Why not?” says Franklin & Marshall College political scientist Terry Madonna, summing up Romney’s reasoning for taking a chance with Pennsylvania. “When they look across the border and see Pennsylvania, which was a 7-, 8- , 9point state for Obama before the first debate, is now a 4-, 5-point Obama state,” he said. “All things being equal, why not hedge their bets?”
Still, the state has been elusive for the GOP. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 4-3 in the state. Despite trying, no Republican presidential candidate has won the state since 1988. The closest was in 2004, when President George W. Bush came up 2.5 percentage points short of John Kerry. For Romney to win, Obama would have to do worse than Kerry and Romney would have to do better than Bush. “Every four years we go through this with Republi-
cans saying that they’re going to play in Pennsylvania,” Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter said. “It’s a sign that he can’t quite figure out his path to 270 electoral votes, so he’s sending out lifelines.” Romney’s entry into Pennsylvania comes in the immediate aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, which devastated neighboring New Jersey. The state’s southeast has a special relationship with New Jersey, where many of its residents
vacation and where New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is as well-known as Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, if not better known. Obama’s tour with Christie to survey the storm’s damage this week and Christie’s compliments for Obama’s response are bound to be noticed in some parts of the state. “The president performs, he’s on the ground, he’s getting praise by one of the nation’s leading Republicans and early supporters of Gov. Romney,” Madonna said. “It’s helpful.” Romney political director Rich Beeson said Romney will gain in Republican regions where he will push issues of jobs and energy, particularly gas exploration in the northeastern part of the state and coal in the southwest corner. But much of the attention by the two campaigns is in the ring of counties around Democratic-heavy Philadelphia. Romney will campaign in those suburbs. With 1 in 5 of Pennsylvania’s registered voters living there, the heavily populated suburbs of Chester, Delaware, Bucks and Montgomery counties are a reliable predictor of who will win the state. Voters there are highly educated and accustomed to splitting their tickets; they tend to lean liberal on environmental and social issues but conservative on fiscal matters.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
LUZ MARIA (LUCY) CANTU Luz Maria (Lucy) Cantu, 62, beloved sister, aunt and friend, joined our Lord on Oct. 29, 2012, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo. Miss Cantu was a very well-known music teacher, who touched the lives of hundreds of young students from grade schools through high schools throughout South Texas. Miss Cantu, a graduate of Texas A&I-Kingsville, started her teaching career at Edcouch Elsa High School as an assistant band director; she went on to Porter High School in Brownsville, also as an assistant band director; from there she continued her teaching career at Rio Grande City High School and other RGC district schools. In 1981, Miss Cantu moved to Zapata as junior high school band director and assistant band director of the Mighty Hawk High School Band. Miss Cantu also taught music at the ZCISD elementary schools. Miss Cantu remained in Zapata until 1995 when she moved to her home town of Edinburg and taught elementary music at Linda Treviño Elementary School, until her retirement in 2001. After retirement she returned to Zapata, where she substituted at the school district and volunteered her time at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Miss Cantu dedicated her life to teaching and promoting music education and was loved by all the students she came in touch with. She always encouraged her students to strive for perfection and never give up; she always seemed to bring out the best in all her students. Miss Cantu is preceded
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
in death by her parents, Ramon O. and Maria De La Luz Cantu; and a niece, Cynthia Celene Cantu. Miss Cantu is survived by her brothers, Jose Eduardo Cantu of Alleyton, Texas, and Juan Ramon Cantu of Edinburg, Texas; one sister, Maria G. (Cookie); and brother-inlaw, Roberto (Bobby) Loza of Zapata, Texas; stepmother, Lilia Cantu; and by numerous nephews, nieces, great-grandnephews, great-grandnieces and friends. Visitation hours were Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession will depart Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. for a noon funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1610 Hidalgo Blvd., Zapata, 78076. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. 83, Zapata.
A traffic violation Tuesday night landed a man in jail after deputies found cocaine wrapped in bags in the vehicle he was driving, according to a Zapata County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. Deputies stopped a GMC pickup at 8:30 p.m. at Third Street and Texas 16. Authorities identified the driver as 37-year-old Gerardo Gonzalez. According to Sgt. Mario Elizondo, a further inspection of the vehicle yielded 13 wrapped bags containing a suspected controlled sub-
stance. A sheriff’s office news release states the seized narcotic was 5.8 grams of cocaine. Deputies arrested Gonzalez and charged him with possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony, which carries a punishment of two to 10 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Gonzalez was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail and held on a $20,000 bond set by Justice of the Peace Jose Clemente Gutierrez. Gonzalez bailed out Wednesday. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
THE BLOTTER ABANDONED VEHICLE An abandoned vehicle was recovered at 1:13 p.m. Tuesday at Falcon Lake Estates East.
ASSAULT An assault was reported at 2:45 a.m. Oct. 25 in the 1600 block of Bravo Avenue. An aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was reported at 3:39 p.m. Oct. 27 at Las Cruzes Ranch. An assault was reported at 6:33 p.m. Oct. 27 by Bravo Avenue. An assault, family violence incident was reported at 9:50 a.m. Monday in the 1600 block of Diaz Avenue. An assault was reported
at 4:53 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of Gonzalez Street. An assault was reported at 9:33 p.m. Monday in the 1400 block of South Siesta Lane. An assault on a public servant was reported at 11:12 p.m. Monday at 20th Street and Lincoln Avenue. An assault, family violence was reported at 6:49 p.m. Thursday in the 200 block of Third Street.
THEFT A theft was reported at 3:08 p.m. Oct. 22 in the 2000 block of Sunset Drive. A theft was reported at 2:56 p.m. Oct. 29 in the 900 block of Fresno Street.
IBC teaches financial literacy SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
IBC Bank-Zapata is helping fill the void of financial literacy by participating in the national American Bankers Association Education Foundation “Get Smart About Credit” campaign this fall, along with other markets throughout Texas and Oklahoma. Employees led sessions at Hebbronville High School and the Rio Grande City Adult Day Care Center in October as part of a focused effort to reach older students and adults with credit management techniques that will empower them to develop good credit habits for a lifetime. According to a 2011 national survey by the Council for Economic Education, students who had taken personal finance courses were less likely to be compulsive buyers, max
out their credit cards and make late payments. However, across the country, fewer than half of the states require high school students to take an economics class, and just 13 states require a personal finance class. A 2010 financial literacy survey of adults, conducted on behalf of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Inc., revealed that 41 percent of respondents said they learned their personal finance skills from their parents or at home, but 34 percent, or nearly 77 million people, gave themselves a grade of C, D or F. “IBC Bank is committed to helping students and adults learn the importance of establishing and maintaining good credit so they can be set up for success in their financial lives,” CEO Renato Ramirez said. “This is the third year we have tak-
en an active role in the ‘Get Smart About Credit’ program companywide, as it aligns perfectly with our ‘Do More’ philosophy. As individuals improve their finances, the community at large sees a benefit.” Utilizing Get Smart About Credit curriculum along with FDIC Money Smart modules, IBC employees taught participants about different types of credit, the importance of credit worthiness, keeping records for checking accounts, and how to identify ways to save money. In total, 130 high school students and adults were reached during October in the local market. IBC Bank also reaches younger students in Oklahoma and Texas through its Money Buzz financial education program, with speciallydesigned curriculum for children in kindergarden through eighth grade.
Villarreal named Madrina SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
MARIJUANA Continued from Page 1A nandez. Agents asked him if he had paperwork for the shipment of coil spools. Hernandez said he did not have any. He went on to say he was en route to his father’s business, but he could not provide an address for it, according to the complaint. “Agents were unsatisfied with Hernandez’s interview, so they decided to inspect the coil spools,” court documents state. After noticing several anomalies, agents called in a K-9 unit to inspect the truck and trailer. The dog alerted agents to the presence of contraband in the cargo area, the complaint states. An intensive inspection of the pickup and trailer with the use of an X-ray revealed anomalies within the spools of coax cables that were on the
Man arrested after cocaine find
trailer. “The substance inside the spools tested positive for marijuana,” a Border Patrol news release states. Agents found 287 bundles of marijuana, with a total weight of 1,380.5 pounds. The pot had an estimated street value of $1,104,400. DEA took custody of Hernandez and the marijuana. Hernandez was arrested for knowingly and unlawfully possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He remained in federal custody Friday evening. Call the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll-free telephone number at 1-800343-1994 to report suspicious activity, such as drug or alien smuggling. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
The first queen of the Zapata County Fair, Cynthia Laura Villarreal, is the 2012 Quinceaneara Ball Madrina, the Zapata County Historical Commission announced recently. Villarreal is the daughter of the late Gilberto and Celia M. Villarreal. She was born in Laredo, but lived all her life in Zapata, where both her parents were teachers with the Zapata County Independent School District. Villarreal is a long-time educator and has a long history of involvement in the community. Her education career spans 33 years, including nine years as a teacher, nine as a counselor and nine as an assistant principal. She is in her sixth year working as a principal, and currently is principal of Zapata South Elementary School. Villarreal and her teaching staff designed the A.L. Benavides Elementary School in San Ygnacio. Her community involve-
ment includes membership of the Zapata County Fair Queen Committee, which she served as chair for 12 years. She was co-chair of the Trail Ride for two years and of the fair association’s parade for one year. Villarreal has participated in the annual Cancer Relay for Life and served as mistress of ceremonies on several occasions. She also has volunteered for the American Cancer Society as a speaker, working to build support systems to promote awareness for stronger health and wellness. She worked as a consultant for the Commission for the Blind and helped organize the “Wellness, Goal Seeking, and Leadership Summer Camp for Youth” for five years in the Rio Grande Valley. Villarreal has been a motivational speaker for several organizations and has done work in “Company Effectiveness and Social Skills Building” as a private presenter and consultant. She has been a member of the San Ygnacio Ladies Club for 10 years and has
served as that organization’s mistress of ceremonies for their annual Cinco de VILLARREAL Mayo and Dieciseis de Septiembre celebrations. Villarreal also served as the coordinator of the Historic Christmas San Ygnacio House Tours for five years. She has been a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, where she served for 10 years as parish council president. Other activities as a church member include teaching catechism for 14 years, helping to establish the church jamaica and serving as a presenter for the Quinceanera preparation classes. Villarreal was crowned the first Zapata County Fair queen in 1975. She has been a member of the board for the boys and girls club of Zapata, and has served on the boards of the county STAACDA program and the drug coalition. She founded the Sisterhood Club, dedicated to the
empowerment of women. In 2007, the educator was recognized in Who’s Who Amongst America’s Top Teachers. Villarreal attended Zapata schools all her life and graduated from Zapata High in 1975. She received an associate’s degree from Laredo Community College and then transferred to South West Texas State University, from which she graduated in 1979. She worked for Laredo ISD for two years before receive a masters in education in 1981 from Laredo State University. In 1996, Villarreal obtained another masters, from Texas A&M International University, in educational mid-management and principalship. She presently is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from Texas A&MKingsville. Villarreal has five children, including, Triana Cristina Guerra Flores, and Adriana C., Manuel C. Clarissa L. and Marco Domingo Guerra. She has two grandchildren, Daniel Carlos Flores Jr. and Lilyana Eugenia Flores.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
New season near Zapata basketball teams ready for 2012-13 By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
Basketball has arrived and the boys and girls teams have been hard at work on the hardwood for the past two weeks as they officially opened practice. The Lady Hawks are coming off a successful season after taking second place with a 10-2 district record and going to the playoffs under rookie coach Hector Garcia. Garcia, now in his soph-
omore season, is looking to duplicate last year’s success as he starts to work out the X’s and O’s with his team everyday in practice. Zapata opens up the season on the road as they head to Laredo Cigarroa on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. tip-off. Cigarroa returns a young squad that consists of sophomores Ashley Lara, Denise Loredo and Becky Ramirez who played a key role in the
Lady Toros success last year. Zapata (20-6) will have seven returning lettermen to the team and two returning starters in Kristina De Leon and Rebecca Quintanilla. De Leon joins the team after Sinton ousted the Lady Hawks volleyball team from the playoffs on Thursday. Also returning for Zapata are Liana Flores, Isela Gonzalez, Aly Jo Gutierrez, Celia Rathmell and
Samantha Valadez. With only two starters returning, Garcia will have to search for three players to fill those roles. “It’s going to be a battle for three final spots,” Garcia said. “I have a lot of girls that are hungry for playing time but for now I am going to rely on experience. Liana Flores and Aly Jo Gutierrez are my two seniors that I think can help the team at forward
See SEASON PAGE 2B
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Zapata’s Andy Gonzalez was named to the inaugural Zapata Times All-City Team last year.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
HAWKS FALL IN AREA
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Zapata lost in the area playoff game against Sinton after winning the District 31-3A this year.
District 31-3A champion’s season comes to an end By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The season has come to an end for Zapata as the Lady Hawks dropped the area playoff game against Sinton in three straight sets (19-25, 1525, 8-25) Thursday night in
Falfurrias. “The girls did the best that they could against Sinton,” Zapata coach Rosie Villarreal said. “I know they were disappointed because their goal was to win area and go as far as they could. They gave it everything they had but we
fell short in our run to get further into the playoffs.” Zapata captured the District 31-3A volleyball title with an unblemished record and even flirted with a state ranking for a while, heading into the Class 3A playoffs with great aspirations after a
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sensational district season. Zapata was hoping that the postseason would be kinder to them because in the past the Lady Hawks have not fared well and were hoping that this season would be dif-
See HAWKS PAGE 2B
Playoff fever is in the air Playoffs are the most exciting time of the season next to the district season. There is no greater feeling than hitting the road for a playoff game, with the excitement in the air that is felt throughout the entire ride to the game. I can only imagine how the players must feel. As a former coach, I do recall those moments with fond memories. This past week alone I have been to Alice, Roma, Rio Grande City and San Antonio for the regional cross-country meet. I love to travel to playoff games and regional meets. With some luck with how the cross country team fares today I will be heading to the state meet next Saturday in Round Rock. I head to the playoffs for every sport and have enjoyed a few places that break out the red carpet for me when I arrived. These past few years, Roma has become a second home for me for the playoffs because I have been there over 15 times for volleyball and basketball playoff games. Last year during the basket-
See PLAYOFF PAGE 2B
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
Zapata runs in regional meet in San Antonio By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Zapata’s boys and girls cross country teams run in the Class 3A UIL Region IV meet in San Antonio today.
The Zapata cross country teams will be running this morning in the Class 3A UIL Region IV meet in San Antonio at the National Shooting Complex. Zapata captured the boys and girls district titles to earn a trip to the regional meet. Zapata will be attempting to earn a spot at the state cross country meet and needs to finish in the top three in the team standings or the top 10 individu-
als that might not come from the top three teams. The Zapata girls and boys teams missed the state meet last year and are working hard to return. The girls team will be running at 11:40 a.m. and the boys will follow at noon. The Lady Hawks are led by two-time state qualifier Jazmine Garcia, who earned the trip to state with the team as a freshman and individually last year. Garcia is the only runner with the most experience at the regional and the state level, vy-
ing to use that to the Lady Hawks advantage. The Lady Hawks team consists of Raquel Almaguer, Joyce Garcia, Erica Hernandez, Jannet Chapa and Cassie Pena. “I’m excited that the opportunity is here and I’m anxious to see if our plan and training paid off,” Zapata coach Mike Villarreal said. “I’m nervous because of the unknown. “As far as getting to state, the girls need to stay relaxed, have fun, enjoy the ride and allow
See RUNS PAGE 2B
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Zscores
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
Longhorns to face Texas Tech By BETSY BLANEY ASSOCIATED PRESS
LUBBOCK— Texas coach Mack Brown has seen quarterbacks such as Seth Doege at Texas Tech. On Saturday, Doege and the No. 20 Red Raiders’ receiving corps will challenge a Texas pass defense that’s giving up 229 yards a game, while Texas Tech is averaging 358 yards through the air. Brown thinks Doege, who’s thrown for 30 touchdowns and 2,540 yards this season, is one of the nation’s best quarterbacks and is similar in accuracy and competitiveness to former Red Raiders signal-callers Graham Harrell and Kliff Kingsbury. Doege deserves to be in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy, Brown said. “His name should be right in the middle of that list, in my estimation,” Brown said. “He’s the No. 7 passer in the country, No. 1 in TD passes. I don’t know how you keep that guy out of the Heisman race as you look at it.” Doege got press as a dark-horse contender for the Heisman before the Red Raiders fell 55-24 at No. 3 Kansas State last week. Going into that game, Doege had thrown 13 touchdowns in wins over West Virginia and TCU. Against the Horned Frogs he found Alex Torres in the middle of the end zone for a career-best seventh touchdown in the Red Raiders’ 56-53 win in triple overtime in Fort Worth. Texas has won back-to-back games, most recently a slim 21-17 victory at Kansas. Starter David Ash was pulled from the game and backup Case McCoy’s one-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Grant with 12 seconds left gave the Longhorns the win. Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said the defense will be prepared to play against Ash, who was named
Photo by Orlin Wagner | AP
Photo by Christian Palma | AP
Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege will host the Longhorns defense this weekend in Lubbock.
In this file photo, America’s Christian Benitez, left, grabs Tijuana’s Javier Jacuzzi during a match in Mexico City.
the starter for Saturday’s game earlier his week. “But we’ll prepare for both” quarterbacks, he said. “But most of the time, and we’ll do it in this game, is prepare for the offense, because you can’t run two different offenses.” Brown said he wouldn’t hesitate to turn to McCoy again if circumstances warrant taking Ash out. He called it a “tremendous situation” to have two good choices. “That is no different than any other position except it gets more publicity,” he said. “You play the guy that does the best. Throughout the year David has done a great job. Saturday he struggled, and Case did the best.” Texas has won the last three games against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders last beat the Longhorns in 2008 when Harrell hit Michael Crabtree for a touchdown in the final seconds of the game.
Crabtree was expected to be at Saturday’s game. He plays for the San Francisco 49ers, who have an open date Sunday. Doege wants to see it as just another game, one in which the offense plays well in both halves. Against the Wildcats, the Red Raiders scored just two touchdowns in the second half. Had Texas Tech won the two teams would be tied for first in the Big 12 and the Red Raiders would still have a shot at a BCS bowl. “I think there is a little fire burning inside of us after what happened on Saturday because that was such a great opportunity for us,” Doege said. “Just because we get hit in the mouth or just because a big-time play turns negative and maybe shifts the momentum, we have to learn to fight back and understand we can still make plays to get us back in the football game.”
Winter Classic canceled By MICHAEL BUTEAU BLOOMBERG NEWS
The National Hockey League canceled the Jan. 1 outdoor Winter Classic game at Michigan Stadium as the lockout of players reached its seventh week. The league previously canceled regular-season contests through Nov. 30, bringing the total of dropped games to 327, or 27 percent of the 82-gamesper-team season. Cancellation of the outdoor game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the latest edition of what has become the NHL’s showcase for U.S. television audiences, was announced in a news release. The logistical demands for staging events of this magnitude made today’s decision unavoidable, NHL Deputy Commission-
Photo by Chris Young | AP
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, center, leaves the NHLPA offices following collective bargaining in Toronto. er Bill Daly said. We simply are out of time. We are extremely disappointed. Donald Fehr, executive director of the NHL Players Association, said the cancellation of the game was unnecessary and unfortunate, as was the owners’ implementation of the lockout itself. The NHL had until today to cancel the Winter Classic to avoid paying additional fees to the University of Michigan for the rental of its 110,000-seat
football stadium in Ann Arbor, the Canadian Press reported on Oct. 29. The league will forfeit a $100,000 deposit already paid to the university, according to the report. Dave Brandon, the schools athletic director, said the contract will remain intact and be shifted to the next Winter Classic, which will be staged at Michigan Stadium. We knew this was a possibility but we stayed prepared in the event the la-
bor dispute would get resolved, Brandon said in a statement. Large Audience With the Maple Leafs participation, this season’s game was going to feature a Canadian-based team for the first time in the events six-year history, possibly drawing one of the largest viewing audiences of any NHL contest. The first five Winter Classic games rank among the six most-watched games in league history in the U.S. A record 4.5 million viewers watched the 2011 contest between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. The previously canceled contests include a Nov. 23 afternoon contest between the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins that was set to be the first nationally televised game of the season on Comcast Corps. NBC network.
Tijuana’s team bringing pride By OMAR MILLAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
TIJUANA, Mexico — Tijuana has a football club that’s finally bringing the border city some positive coverage, after long being known for the wrong reasons. The team is aiming to win the Mexican league title, which would be a giant step forward for a club that was established just over five years ago. The success has given a big lift to football fans in the MexicoUnited States border region, which has been battered for years by drug-related violence that has demoralized its citizens. The club is coached by Argentine Antonio Mohamed, who came to Tijuana from Argentine club Independiente. A former striker, Mohamed played for years in Mexico and went on to coach several Mexican clubs, but has found his place with this one. Tijuana reached the Mexican playoffs last season, only to be eliminated in the quarterfinals. Mohamed is hoping this time will be different with the team already guaranteed a place in the final-eight playoffs. The club has lost only one of 15 league games this season going into play this weekend. “When you look at it, you realize this is the reward for our hard word and remaining humble,” said Mohamed, who was famous in Mexico for playing with is hair dyed bleach-blond. “We have no reason to change now. The success won’t dis-
tract us. We have to keep our feet on the ground and keep thinking game by game. We can’t change.” The team’s success has led fans to forget the controversy surrounding the club’s ownership. The owner is Jorge Hank Rhon, the former mayor of Tijuana and a gambling magnate. Rhon was arrested in 2011 and held on weapons charges, which were eventually dismissed by a federal appeals court. Rhon was Tijuana’s mayor from 2004 to 2007, when he staged a failed run for state governor. He has long figured large on the national political scene, and not only because of the wealth amassed from his Caliente gambling empire. His father was one of Mexico’s best-known politicians as the leader of a faction in the PRI, which ruled Mexico from 1929 until 2000. The club’s president is Rhon’s son Jorge Alberto Hank Inzunza. Established in 2007, the club goes by the nickname of “Los Xolos,” — pronounced HO-lows — which is short for Xoloitzcuintle, a type of Aztec dog. The popularity of the team has helped the city improve its self-image. “The city was missing a team to give it an identity, but there was no expectation it would be done quickly,” said Guillermo Alonso Meneses, a cultural anthropologist at the University of Barcelona in Spain. “I think this strong urge to have an important team has driven the so-called boom.”
HAWKS Continued from Page 1B ferent. Zapata was able to go toe-to-toe with Sinton as stayed within striking distance but dropped the opening set 25-19. The Lady Hawks did all they could do but could not catch a break against Sinton and got into a hole early in the second set. Zapata could never regain their composure in the third set as they saw their
season come to an end. “When it came down to the third game, I told them that we were in a door-die situation because if we lost this set we would be going home and our season would be over,” Villarreal said. “I feel that the girls were playing not to lose and that is where we made our mistakes. “We were being careful with what
needed to be done. I am proud of these girls because despite our loss to Sinton the girls had an excellent year.” The Lady Hawks were led by Kristina De Leon 14 kills on offense and was backed by Jeana Jasso (three kills), Celia Rathmell (two kills) and Cari Villarreal (two kills). On defense, Abby Aguilar had 11 digs and De Leon recorded eight while Anis-
RUNS
SEASON
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their training to take over. And of course a little luck and a lot of faith both go a long way in helping us reach our goal.” On the boys side, the Hawks are also in a hard search for a state berth as they were absent from the state meet last year. Rookie coach Roel Ibanez has done a tremendous job with the program, continuing the Hawks winning tradition that includes a trip to the state meet. The Hawks captured the District 31-3A title in grand fashion, scoring 15 points, a perfect score in cross country. All season long the Hawks have been led by Luis Garza and are expected to do well at the regional meet. The rest of the team consists of teammates Jose Garcia, Carlos Rodriguez, Sammy Camacho, Jerome Cabugos, Heri Perez and Romeo Morales. “I strongly feel that we are one of the three top teams in the region,” Ibanez said. “We just need to relax and run the way we are capable of running and just put a little extra effort on our kick at the end of the race.”
and guard position. “Then I am going have a sophomore Isella Gonzalez who play varsity last year trying to control our offense as our point. But we well see as the season starts.”
The Return of the Hawks After last year’s turbulent season where the Hawks did not make the playoffs, Zapata gained a lot of experience and is banking to make a strong showing this year. Zapata returns the majority of the team, including All-District selection Andy Gonzalez, who was named to the inaugural Zapata Times All-City Team last year. Gonzalez could score the three on a fly or pull up for a jumper in the paint to average 12 points per game. Gonzalez is still with the football team and will join the basketball team when the football season is over.
sa Garcia had five digs in the back row. Aguilar and De Leon had one service ace apiece while Sesst Mata and Gabby Gutierrez combined for 15 assists. With the volleyball season coming to an end, Zapata will say goodbye to seven seniors including Kristina De Leon, Abby Aguilar, Liana Flores, Jeana Jasso, Vanessa Martinez, Stephanie Briseno and Anissa Garcia.
PLAYOFF Continued from Page 1B ball playoffs I went to Roma four times in five days. I was at the Gladiator gym so much that the athletic director’s secretary Carmen knew where I liked to sit and had to let the sports writer from the Monitor know that he needed to move over because that was my seat. I have gone as far as Austin and as near as Zapata for basketball and volleyball playoffs, enjoying my trips to each site. I have covered games in Castroville, Rio Grande City, La Joya, Alice, Falfurrias, Harlingen, McAllen, Mission, Corpus Christi and San Antonio. The past few years I have been fortunate enough to cover a regional girls’ basketball tournament and a regional volleyball tournament. While playoff and regional games are fun to cover, the ones that I enjoy the most are the state
meets. Thanks to coach Mike Villarreal and the Lady Hawks I covered my first cross country meet four years ago and I quickly fell in love with the atmosphere. I have also been fortunate to cover the state track and field meet, thanks to Marlene Garcia and the state swim meet. For each state event that I have attended, I am given a media credential to cover the event and you bet that I have all of them framed and displayed at my home office. I will be running around all day at the regional meet and I am pulling for the Hawks and Lady Hawks just like everyone else who made the trip from Zapata, because I would love nothing more than to be at the state meet next week. (Clara Sandoval can be reached at sandoval.clara @gmail.com)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS | BY HELOISE SUPPLIES FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF LIFE Dear Heloise: When my nephew graduated from high school and I knew he was going to college, I showed up at the party with a FISHING TACKLE BOX. (He did not like to fish.) In the tackle box, I had a hammer, several sizes of nails, a pair of pliers, a multihead screwdriver, a measuring tape and lots of screws and stick-up hangers. I also had paper clips and various paper fasteners. I threw in a few sewing supplies from my sewing room, too. When I know there is a graduation coming up, I look for items to put in the next fishing tackle box. It’s a hit every time. — Diane S., Toronto, Ohio Dear Readers: Dave and Denise Harner of Swea City, Iowa, sent a photo of their female yellow Labrador retriever, Nuggie. In the photo, Nuggie looks like she is winking at the camera. To see Nuggie, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pets.” — Heloise DIRT VERSUS SOIL Dear Heloise: Regarding your tips on starting seedlings: You don’t plant seeds in dirt; you plant them in SOIL. Dirt is the stuff you
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HELOISE
get on your hands or clothes, and that you use soap and water to get rid of ! — Julian H., via email This is a great point, Julian! Most of us refer to them as one and the same, but technically there is a difference. Soil is the earth and what we walk on. Dirt is what’s scooped up, or all that stuff on our shoes and hands. When planting seedlings, it is best to first place the small sprouts in planters or peat pots filled with nutrient-rich “dirt” before transplanting them into the ground or soil. Happy gardening! — Heloise MAKEUP FOUNDATION Dear Heloise: I use a foundation that is dispensed with a pump. When it won’t pump anymore, there’s still a LOT of product in the bottle. I remove the pump tube and instead reach in with a cotton swab and apply with my fingertips from that. I get at least another week of makeup from the “empty” container. — Cheryl B., via email
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NFL
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012
Daniels thriving for Houston By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Sharon Ellman | AP
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo has struggled in 2012 after posting a career-best 31 touchdowns with 10 interceptions last year.
Dallas sticking by Romo By CLARENCE E. HILL JR. MCT
IRVING- By most generally accepted standards, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is having a horrible season. With 15 turnovers - a league-high 13 interceptions and two fumbles - he has seemingly regressed from last season’s career-best touchdown-to-interception ratio of 31-10 to the reckless "Tony Oh No" ways of his younger years. But if you listen to the talk coming out of the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch headquarters, the spin is quite different and decidedly more Romo-friendly. Coach Jason Garrett readily acknowledges that turnovers are the single-biggest reason for the team’s 3-4 record heading into Sunday’s must-win game against the undefeated Atlanta Falcons (7-0). Yet, he said the problem is much bigger and deeper than Romo, while going into great detail on how his maligned quarterback is still making good decisions with the football and a great majority of the interceptions this season were because of poor routes or breakdowns in other areas. Garrett pointed out that the first two of his four in-
terceptions in the 29-24 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday were because of a bad route by Dez Bryant and failure to make a play on the ball by Miles Austin. The other two were great plays by the Giants’ defense rather than bad ones by Romo, Garrett said. Likewise, vice president Stephen Jones said his confidence in Romo remains very high - so much so that he remains focused on signing the 10-year veteran to a contract extension to ensure that he retires as a member of the Cowboys. Jones has begun preliminary negotiations with Romo’s representatives in hopes of getting a new deal done before his contract expires at the end of next season. "We still feel that way," Jones said. "We’ve got a lot of confidence in Tony. Tony has a lot of confidence in himself. He is going to be fine. He is not the problem." Jones said Romo is overscrutinized because of the high-profile nature of the position in Dallas and the championship quarterbacks before him, such as Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. Jones said Romo has pulled out of bad stretches before and will again, and evoked comparisons to Su-
per Bowl champion quarterbacks John Elway and Brett Favre, who had disappointing turns early in their careers. "I think he is going to get better," Jones said. "There are a lot of quarterbacks it doesn’t happen right way for them as far as winning championships and that type of thing. You don’t have to look any further than some of the Hall of Famers like Elway and Favre. It came late in their careers. They had some of the same issues that Tony has had. They had some really great games and some tough ones in terms of turning it over and that type of thing. It’s all part of the process. There’s a lot of expectations. He welcomes that. He will thrive." Romo also wants it clear that he knows quarterbacks are judged off wins and losses and no one feels worse about the Cowboys’ 3-4 start. "The game comes down to winning and losing," Romo said. "When we lose, I am always accountable. You are playing the quarterback position; I’m accountable for the football game. That’s part of playing the position. No matter what anybody says, it eats at you. No one thinks about the game or grinds over plays more than I do."
HOUSTON — Last season, Owen Daniels thought he had finally returned to the player he was before tearing a knee ligament in 2009. After comparing film from then and now, the Houston Texans tight end realizes he wasn’t quite there yet. “I can look on film and tell a difference with the way I’m moving this year compared to last year,” he said. “I could probably show anybody and they could probably recognize it. So that’s what I like seeing. I’m excited to see that, and hopefully I can continue to look like that and continue to move around well.” Now that he really has returned to form, Daniels has re-emerged as of the top tight ends in the NFL, and gives the Texans’ powerful offense another threat. “He’s playing right now as good as I’ve ever seen him play since he’s been with me, and he’s played pretty darn good in the past,” Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. “Hopefully — we keep our fingers crossed here — he stays healthy. He’s on his way to a big year.” Daniels made the Pro Bowl in 2008 after catching 70 passes for a career-high 862 yards. He had 519 yards receiving and a team-leading five touchdowns in 2009 before injuring the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the eighth game of the season. He was progressing well in his rehabilitation from that injury before doctors discovered a stress fracture in his right kneecap, which slowed his progress. He re-
Photo by Patric Schneider | AP
Houston tight end Owen Daniels (81) is regaining his previous form before suffering a knee ligament tear in 2009. turned to play 11 games in 2010, but his 471 yards receiving were the fewest he’d had since finishing with 352 as a rookie in 2006. Daniels started 15 games and had 677 yards receiving a year ago. “I know I felt pretty good at times last season,” Daniels said. “I felt like I was wearing down toward the end of the season, but sometime during last season I felt pretty good and felt more explosive. Definitely this offseason with what I was doing, I felt really, really good.” That good offseason work has carried over into the season where he is fourth in the NFL among tight ends with 416 yards receiving and four touchdowns. His work has led some to compare this season to his Pro Bowl year of 2008. “I think I’m more complete, honestly,” he said. “I’m playing a lot better against the run, a lot better in pass (protection) than I
was back then. I know I’m stronger than I was back then ... I feel as good as I did back then.” Houston’s star receiver Andre Johnson has been impressed with Daniels this season, and sees a difference from last year. “You can tell he’s much more comfortable out there when he’s running with the ball,” Johnson said. “His running form and everything, he looks like he’s much more comfortable. He’s running a lot faster and things like that. Sometimes when you have those injuries it just takes a little time to get back comfortable, especially when it’s dealing with knees and stuff like that.” Daniels loves playing with Johnson, and he knows he benefits from playing with someone who has more than 10,000 yards receiving in his career. “His game has helped me out a lot,” Daniels said. “The success I’ve had has a ton to do with what ’Dre’s doing out on the field.”